Tag Archives: Death of a Parent & Guardian

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Misogyny
  • Attempted rape & sexual assault
  • Workplace sexual harassment
  • Child abuse mentioned
  • Death of a parent
  • Car accident, on-page

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven’t given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. And now their most threatening enemy yet – the chaos snake Apophis – is rising. If they don’t prevent him from breaking free in a few days’ time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it’s a typical week… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Racism
  • Physical injury
  • Death of a parent recounted

All That Remains by Sue Black

All That Remains by Sue Black

Sue Black confronts death every day. As Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, she focuses on mortal remains in her lab, at burial sites, at scenes of violence, murder and criminal dismemberment, and when investigating mass fatalities due to war, accident or natural disaster. In All That Remains she reveals the many faces of death she has come to know, using key cases to explore how forensic science has developed, and what her work has taught her. Do we expect a book about death to be sad? Macabre? Sue’s book is neither. There is tragedy, but there is also humour… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Graphic dead bodies
  • Murder & genocide
  • Death of a child
  • Death of a parent
  • Natural disasters

Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch

Blaine for the Win by Robbie Couch

High school junior Blaine Bowers has it all—the perfect boyfriend, a pretty sweet gig as a muralist for local Windy City businesses, a loving family, and awesome, talented friends. And he is absolutely, 100% positive that aforementioned perfect boyfriend—​senior student council president and Mr. Popular of Wicker West High School, Joey—is going to invite Blaine to spend spring break with his family in beautiful, sunny Cabo San Lucas. Except Joey breaks up with him instead. In public. On their one-year anniversary…. Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Anxiety
  • Depressive episode
  • Death of a parent from cancer, off-page (sc)

The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen

The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen

Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had travelled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she’s run away. But things haven’t gone well. She’s been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Fatmisia
  • Death of a parent recounted
  • Blood depiction
  • Gun violence
  • War recounted

Bad Mommy by Tarryn Fisher

Bad Mommy by Tarryn Fisher

When Fig Coxbury buys a house on West Barrett Street, it’s not because she likes the neighbourhood, or even because she likes the house. It’s because everything she desires is next door: The husband, the child, and the life that belongs to someone else.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Homophobia & slut-shaming
  • Infidelity
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Miscarriage
  • Cancer
  • Death of a parent
  • Stalking

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Marital rape mentioned
  • Sexual harassment
  • Cheating
  • Forced arranged marriage
  • Suicide
  • Pregnancy & childbirth mentioned
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood, gore and injury depiction
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a son & father
  • Murder & attempted murder
  • Physical assault
  • Fire
  • Kidnapping
  • Blackmail
  • Hanging
  • Graphic animal death & cruelty
  • War themes

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother.… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment
  • Divorce
  • Diabetes
  • Death of a parent

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighbouring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worth… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Child abuse & domestic violence recounted (love interest)
  • Parental infidelity recounted & discussed
  • Suicide cults discussed
  • Miscarriage mentioned (protagonist’s parent)
  • Alcohol consumption (on-page)
  • Parent with heart condition mentioned
  • Parent in remission for breast cancer (protagonist)
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a father from a stroke recounted

Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow by Siobhan Curham

Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow by Siobhan Curham

Fourteen-year-old Stevie lives in Lewes with her beloved vinyl collection, her mum … and her mum’s depression. When Stevie’s mum’s disability benefits are cut, Stevie and her mother are plunged into a life of poverty. But irrepressible Stevie is determined not to be beaten and she takes inspiration from the lyrics of her father’s 1980s record collection and dreams of a life as a musician. Then she meets Hafiz, a talented footballer and a Syrian refugee. Hafiz’s parents gave their life savings to buy Hafiz a safe passage to Europe; his journey has been anything but easy. Then… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Parent with depression
  • Death of a father
  • Refugee experiences